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Simple English definitions for legal terms
public-authority justification
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A quick definition of public-authority justification:
Public-Authority Justification: When someone is given permission by the government to do something that would normally be considered illegal in order to protect or benefit the public, they can use a public-authority justification as a defense. This means they had a good reason for their actions and were not breaking the law. For example, a police officer may be authorized to use force to stop a dangerous criminal, even if it would normally be considered assault.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Public-authority justification is a legal defense that can be used when an individual has been authorized by a public authority to engage in conduct that would otherwise be considered an offense in order to protect or further a public interest.
For example, if a police officer is authorized to use force to apprehend a suspect, and in the process, the officer injures the suspect, the officer may be able to use public-authority justification as a defense if the use of force was necessary to protect the public interest in apprehending the suspect.
This defense is only available if the individual can prove that they were specifically authorized to engage in the conduct that would otherwise be considered an offense. It is not a defense that can be used by individuals who act on their own without authorization.